Maggie watched helplessly as Mulder struggled to breathe easily and she let out a sigh of relief when the door opened and Dr Wilson hurried through it. He went straight to Mulder's side and, kindly but firmly moved Skinner away from his agent's side and took his place. He pulled the oxygen mask from beside the bed and swiftly placed it over Mulder's face. Soon Mulder's coughing subsided and he slumped into the nurse's arms, his breaths rapid and still slightly laboured. All four adults watched as he began to drift off again, his brow still furrowed in discomfort. As he settled down again, Dr Wilson and the nurse stepped back from the bed, making as if to leave the room but they were halted but Mrs Scully calling out to them.
"Dr Wilson...what...I mean...is this a...a good thing? Or..."
"Mrs Scully I don't think..."
"Please - I want to know what's happening. I need to."
Dr Wilson was hesitant to answer Mrs Scully's questions, as he was not really sure of the answers himself. He was dealing with so many unknowns that anything he told her would be just guesswork. He knew from many past experiences that even in the simplest case things didn't always turn out the way they were supposed to. However, on hearing the desperation in her plea and watching her, sitting on the bed beside her daughter, he knew he couldn't brush her off or ignore her request for information. Instead he decided that honesty was the way to go from here, telling her everything within reason whilst being sure not to raise her hopes too high.
"Mrs Scully...I have to be honest here. I really don't know. In most cases of pneumonia, when a patient starts coughing like that it's a sign that they're expelling the disease - that their body is rejecting it so to speak. However, with this new strain, the opposite could be true. I just don't know. We'll need to do more cultures and blood work and that might give us something to work with - some fragment of clarity that will help us deal with this. We might just be able to find something that will help Agent Mulder - and your daughter - fight it. But please understand this...we are just going on what we know here and there are too many unknowns for that to be enough to ensure recovery."
"I understand that doctor. I know that you're doing your best and I'll leave you to get on with it now. Thank you for taking the time."
"Not a problem Mrs Scully. I'll get these samples to the lab directly. As soon as I hear anything, I'll be back in. Any problems...do what you did before. You know the drill."
"Have done for some time - its not the first hospital stay I've been through. I - and they - made it through all of them - we'll make it through this one."
At that Dr Wilson only nodded, unable to agree to with the statement but unwilling to disagree with the voice of a hopeful mother. This uncommitted response went unnoticed by Maggie, as she had already turned her attention back to the two agents. Skinner however, saw it and recognised for all that it was, understanding exactly what the doctor meant by it. He watched him leave, wondering how the man could cope with dealing with all of the worried families of his patients. He thought for a moment that he wouldn't be able to do it but, after a glance at Maggie and his two agents, he knew that he had done the same and worse for agents under his supervision. He closed his eyes as he recalled all the parents he'd had to console over lost children; the bereaved wives who'd demanded answers he couldn't give. Then he remembered all the times he'd had to contact the next-of-kin for these two specific agents and found himself shocked at the amount.
His thoughts turned back to the present situation as heard Maggie walking back over to sit with him on their chairs. Not sure of what to say, he said nothing, waiting for her to speak first but satisfied to sit in silence if it was what she wanted. They sat watching Mulder and Scully sleep fitfully for a while; the only sound the humming of the monitors and the heavy breathing of the two agents. Such was the depth of the silence that Skinner jumped at the sound of Maggie's voice.
"Walter?"
"What's the matter Maggie?"
"I keep thinking...shouldn't we be doing something...surely there must be something that can be done?"
"Maggie - all we can do for the moment is wait...as much as it hurts and is frustrating there is nothing more to be done. You heard Dr Wilson...they're doing their best."
"I know, I know. I'm glad he talked to us - for not brushing me off when I asked. I know it must be hard for him to tell me it like it is but I need to have something... I mean - I'm wishing so hard and hoping to God that they're going to pull through but...I can't just sit in the dark - not knowing what's happening - and just watch them both..."
At this, Maggie broke off - unable to finish the sentence although she was well aware that he already knew what she had been going to say. Skinner laid a hand on her arm to try calm and reassure her, knowing that there was nothing he could say to take away her fears. She smiled gratefully at him for a moment and then turned back to the beds, unwilling to allow herself to give up hope on either of them. She closed her eyes and rubbed a weary hand across her face, all the waiting around finally getting to her. Skinner once again touched her arm, forcing her to look round at him before he spoke.
"Maggie...if you want to take a break, get some air...you know I'll stay with them."
"I can't Walter...I just...I don't know if I can take much more of this. But I can't leave them."
"It's not wrong to need some time-out. Even just a five-minute walk or...I know there's a chapel in the hospital if you..."
"What if something happens...I need to be here...I can't walk away from them like this."
"Then take my pager - I'll beep you the second anything changes - you'll be back here within minutes."
"I don't know..."
"Go Maggie - get something to eat, have a wander, a rest - anything. Please - you know you'd be telling your daughter the same thing if it was just Mulder. I know I'm no substitute but..."
"You're right...I would - and I have done, many, many times - too many times. I will go - but please, the second anything happens..."
"I promise - first the doctor, then you."
"Okay. ...and Walter...thank you."
"No need Maggie - no need."
At that Maggie got up and, after placing Skinners pager safely in her pocket, she made her way to the only other place she knew she could be at a time like this.
Author's note:- yes its taken a long -LONG- time but its finally updated. please let me know what you think and whether you want this to be short or long ending - cos i've got two ways that this could go I havent decided which yet. thanx - hope you like.
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